If you're a QA stepping into the crypto world, testing a Centralized Exchange (CEX) platform is both exciting and challenging.
This post walks you through key concepts and areas you must understand before testing a CEX platform effectively:
🧠 What is a CEX?
CEX stands for Centralized Exchange, a type of cryptocurrency platform where users create an account, go through identity verification (KYC), and perform trading directly through the system controlled by the exchange.
🧩 Key Modules Testers Should Understand in a CEX
Here are the core flows you'll most likely be testing:
1. 🧾 Account & Authentication
- Sign up, login, reset password
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Session/token management
- Rate limiting (prevent brute force attacks)
2. 🧍 KYC Verification
- Upload documents: ID card, passport, selfie
- Different KYC levels and statuses (Pending / Approved / Rejected)
- Validations for file format, size, clarity
- Error handling and notification messages
Example Test: What happens if I upload a blurry passport photo? Is the rejection reason clear?
3. 💰 Wallet & Balance
- Deposit & withdrawal flows
- Balance updates in real-time
- Display of available vs frozen funds
- Blockchain transaction hash display
Example Test: Does the wallet balance update correctly after a failed withdrawal?
4. 📈 Trading Engine
- Placing Market / Limit / Stop orders
- Order book updates in real-time
- Slippage handling and fee calculation
- Cancel / Edit open orders
Example Test: What if I place a Market Buy with insufficient balance?
5. 🧮 Market Info & Charts
- Price updates and volume display
- Real-time candlestick charts
- Refresh behavior and chart syncing
6. 🔐 Security
- Password rules, session timeouts
- Detect suspicious behavior (e.g. multiple logins)
- Frontend and API error masking (no sensitive info leaked)
🧪 What Makes Testing CEX Platforms Unique?
Unlike typical e-commerce or web apps, CEX platforms involve real money, fast-paced transactions, and legal compliance. That means:
✅ Small bugs = big risks (funds may be lost)
✅ Real-time testing is crucial (prices, balances, trades)
✅ Tester must understand both UI and business logic
✅ Need for test data planning (fake KYC, sandbox wallets)
💡 Final Thoughts
Testing a crypto exchange like Coin12 isn’t just about checking buttons and forms. It’s about thinking like a real user, understanding financial flows, and making sure everything works safely and accurately.
The more you understand the business logic behind trading, the more valuable you’ll become as a QA in this field.
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